LONGMONT -- The Longmont Humane Society has received more than $54,000 in donations since announcing two weeks ago that the nonprofit needs to raise more than $772,000 by Nov. 30 to avoid possible foreclosure.

The organization typically receives about $2,500 in donations in two weeks during the summer months, said Humane Society executive director Liz Smokowski.

To donate

Checks should be made out to the Longmont Humane Society with "now and forever" written in the memo line and mailed to:

Donations ranging from $5 to $10,000 came pouring in after the Humane Society announced it needed help, Smokowski said.

The Humane Society needs to raise the full loan payment -- $772,227 -- by the end of November or the organization could be forced to file bankruptcy or face foreclosure.

That annual payment will help pay off a $6 million bond that was issued on the society's behalf in 2006 to pay for the facility's expansion, which began that year. Wells Fargo now holds the loan. Four loan payments of $772,000 remain, including the one due in November. The humane society's building is collateral on the loan.

Increased operating costs due to the larger facility and deficits from 2006 to 2011 exceeding $1.6 million drained the organization's reserves, leaving it unable to make the upcoming payment.

Among the recent donations was a check from philanthropist Susan Allen of New York, who pledged $5 million to the building expansion in 2005. That gift came over five years in $1 million increments.

Smokowski would not say how much Allen's recent donation was for but confirmed that it did not exceed $10,000. She does not expect Allen to contribute any more large gifts to the nonprofit at this time, she said.

"It's not her fault how the money was handled, and we don't expect her to bail us out," Smokowski said. "We see ourselves as valuable to the entire community, and so we would like to see some other donors step forward and contribute."

A capital campaign focused on large gifts -- The Longmont Humane Society: Serving the Community Now and Forever -- was launched at the end of July to raise the annual payment and eventually pay off the remaining loan amount of $3.1 million.

If you go

The campaign donations are in addition to the donations and revenue needed to support the Humane Society's programs, animal care and staff, Smokowski said.

Donations that are not designated for the campaign on a check memo or through the donation link on longmonthumane.org will go toward this year's operating costs, she said.

Longmont Humane Society animal care team member Patrick Winters cleans a dog kennel on Monday. The Society is trying to raise $772,000 by November to avoid foreclosure, in addition to needing funds for operating costs.
(
Matthew Jonas
)

Rather than focusing all of the staff's energy on the campaign to pay off the bond, Smokowski said, the organization continues to plan for the future.

"We are staying positive that we will be able to save the Humane Society," Smokowski said. "That's why we called the campaign 'Now and Forever.'"

This spring, the humane society spent about $4,800 for efficiency upgrades to the facility.

Mike Frailey, energy services specialist at Longmont Power & Communications, said the humane society made about $25,000 in upgrades to the facility's lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and saved more than $20,000 in rebates.

Frailey said that since those changes were made, the humane society has saved about 12 percent monthly on its utility costs. He said that payback for the organization's out-of-pocket costs is projected to be about nine months.

Beyond that, savings are expected to be up to $300 per month, when annualized.

Smokowski said the rapid payback and long-term investment made the project worth the cost, despite the current financial struggle.

"The savings look good to investors because it's another cost-cutting measure," Smokowski said. "We want to show investors that we're looking beyond November to our annual operations for this year and years to come."

Smokowski is hoping reduced costs and a second consecutive year of positive revenue will help collect donations for the campaign and possibly create an opportunity to renegotiate the bond.

Longmont Humane Society will host its annual fundraising event Strut Your Mutt on Sept. 14, with the goal of raising $40,000 for the organization's programs and operating costs. Funds raised during the event, which includes a 5K walk and run, pet contests and vendors, will not be used for the November payment, Smokowski said.

In previous years, the outdoor event was held in the spring, but the organization moved it to late summer this year hoping for better weather.

"We are doing everything we can to maintain the quality of our services," Smokowski said. "We want to continue to be a resource for the community even through this tough time."

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